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Gather evidence by observing what happens when you mix two substances together in the Sim. If you cannot use the Sim, watch a video of someone completing the investigation. The two substances are the same two substances you mixed together in the investigation earlier in this lesson. Look for additional evidence that will help you to answer the Investigation Question: Can substances change into different substances?

Using the Sim? Follow the Sim investigation instructions below.

Not using the Sim? Go to tinyurlAMPCRX-07 to watch a video of someone completing the steps of the Sim investigation, then answer the questions below.

Sim Investigation Instructions:

In Laboratory A mode, press the Add Substance button and choose calcium chloride (CaCl2).

Press the Add Substance button and choose sodium carbonate (Na2CO3).

Press TEST and observe what happens.

Press RESULTS and examine the results.

Press REVIEW and compare the substances at the Test Start and Test End.

Turn on View Atomic Scale and View Properties toggles.

Use evidence from the final review screen to help you answer the questions below.

What happened when the two substances were combined together in the cup? (check one)

The substances changed into different substances.

The substances did not change into different substances.

I am not sure if the substances changed into different substances.

Explain your answer using evidence from the Sim.

1 answer

When the two substances, calcium chloride (CaCl2) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), were combined together in the Sim, the correct response is:

The substances changed into different substances.

Explanation:

When observing the results from the Sim, you would notice that after combining calcium chloride and sodium carbonate, a reaction occurs that generates a solid precipitate (calcium carbonate, CaCO3) and produces sodium chloride (NaCl) in the solution. This indicates a chemical reaction has taken place, leading to the formation of new substances.

Evidence supporting this conclusion includes:

  1. Formation of New Products: The Sim shows the formation of precipitate (a solid) after the two solutions were mixed, suggesting a chemical change where new materials were created.

  2. Change in Properties: By viewing the properties of the substances before and after the reaction in the Review section, you would notice distinct changes, indicating that the original substances no longer exist in their initial forms.

  3. Atomic Scale Observations: When you turn on the View Atomic Scale, you can observe that the atoms of the original substances rearranged to form new molecular structures, confirming a transformation into different substances.

Thus, based on the observed evidence, the combination of calcium chloride and sodium carbonate led to a reaction that created new substances, demonstrating that substances can indeed change into different substances through chemical reactions.